The Doyle Brunson Hand

Second only to poker's Aces & Eights in notoriety, the Doyle Brunson (RIP) hand is widely known in Texas Hold'em circles.  Wild Bill Hickock's hand became famous as he was shot and killed while holding Aces & 8s in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1876.  Doyle's is, hands down the second most legendary hand in poker circles. 

The Doyle Brunson hand would become famous right around 100 years later in 1976 and 1977 respectively. The hand was a pocket ten and deuce and Doyle won the World Series of Poker with that very hand two years running.  In 1976, he won when the same hand filled to a full house after the remaining 5 cards were dealt.  In 1977, Doyle won when, from the pocket ten and deuce, he hit two pair to top his opponent's two pair.

Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, at Sacramento's finely hosted and appointed Stones Casino, I encountered those famous Doyle Brunson cards in two consecutive hands. (Note: this story isn't about playing poker well, it's about playing, that's all.)

The first time, I was in the big blind so I had a mandatory couple of thousand chips in the pot before any of the cards were dealt.  After the two-card "pockets" were dealt, the betting went around the table with a few callers but no raises.  As the last in the action, I looked down at Doyle's hand, a ten and two off suit.  I just called and the "flop", three cards were dealt face up on the table.  Among them, I was happy to see another ten and two, giving me two pair.  I checked mine, hoping someone would have caught something to make a bluff or bet, giving me a chance to trap. It checked around, no bets.  When the next card was dealt I saw no threat and checked again. One player then threw in 8 thousand in chips.  Everyone else folded.  I raised to around 20 thousand and, after pausing a while, my opponent folded. I showed my winning cards, which I rarely do, and happily announced the "Doyle Brunson" hand.

The very next hand, I was in the small blind, so I had a thousand chips in the pot before the cards were dealt.  I looked down and again, there was a ten and a deuce. It was another Brunson hand, back-to-back. A genuine rarity. AI considers the chances of this happening in the millions to one.  Betting commenced and there were a couple of calls then a large raise to around 12,000.  When the betting came to me, then 8th of 9 players at the table, I quickly announced "all in" with about 55,000 in chips. 

Just to be clear, my hand was a really bad hand to be playing at all.  Players quickly folded to the big raiser and, after a long couple of minutes of thinking, he folded. Up to that point in the tournament, I had not been playing loose at all and I'm sure he took that under consideration.  I again showed my hand with announced remembrance of Doyle Brunson.  It was a find moment in poker for me folks.  A fine moment.  Thanks for the inspiration Doyle and thanks for the entertainment Lady Luck.        

Stones Gambling Hall & Chris Moneymaker

Last Friday, Stones Gambling Hall held their kick-off Texas Hold'em tournament as part of their Spring Classic series. Their guest professional participating that day was 2003 World Series of Poker winner, Chris Moneymaker.

As part of his play, Chris was rotating among various tournament tables and after a while, he joined our table at a seat one of the earlier entries had busted from. He made a comment to our tournament director about whether there was a bounty on him. There wasn't, so I reached in my pocket, pulled out a dollar bill and offered it up as a bounty. I caught a little justifiable heat for that.

Chris had maybe half a starting stack of 20k in chips and shortly after arriving, shoved all in from 3rd or 4th position on our 9 player table. Players folded around to me in the hijack position and I looked down at AK off with about 30k in chips. I declared "all in" to isolate him and he turned over AJ off.

The cards ran out blanks and I had successfully knocked out the former world champ! The players there and I had a good time commenting on that plus... I got to keep my bounty.

Note:  Some of the details here may be baloney and for that I claim the senior fog of memory. However, certain essential details are facts...the cards were as written, I did get the knockout, there was a bounty offered...and Chris was a fine gentleman in good humor throughout. He reentered shortly thereafter and was still there when I eventually got knocked out.

Moron Poker - The Nuances

Okay, okay...actually it's not "moron poker" at all. That's just click bait. It should read "more on poker" but that wouldn't entice clickers would it?!

On a good day...
you can hardly see past your chip stack.

It's the game folks. It's the beautiful tournament Texas Hold'em poker game with an infinite mix of players, dealers, tournament directors and many other folks. They all occupy the gambling stage in several acts with many props and every scene is filled with nuances. Together, the people, casino, tables, cards, chips, food and a certain infamous Lady make the complete package.

The players are a wonder to me, a modern day example of how diverse cultures and nationalities could and should work together in the world today.  In general, they are intelligent, hard-working folks who take relaxation in studying and playing the game.  They are bound by a common set of rules that are observed by dealers and enforced by tournament directors.  The players are all in competition but they know the rules and they generally have respect for one another. I have been a fairly avid tournament student for around ten years now and I am still impressed with how everyone gets along...99.9% of the time.

(Exception: yesterday, yes just yesterday I witnessed another player so upset about losing a hand and the ensuing joking he seriously threatened another player with "...see you outside." I quietly went to the Tournament Director and mentioned it along with an observation that I had seen nothing like it in ten years of tournament poker. I just asked them to keep an eye on the player.  The Director actually called their security chief and the chief soon called the offending player aside for a quiet talk. The player returned, there were no further displays and shortly thereafter he was knocked out of the tournament. Later I told the Director I thought she really handled that well.) 

Dealers are typically thoughtful; cautioning experienced players who occasionally mess up and coaching often anxious new players on rules. They are in a constant state of shepherding their flock of 9 or so players while the cards and chips are flying everywhere.  Game time is busy time for dealers and most of them seem to enjoy themselves. They have some genuinely fine smiles and keen senses of humor in common. And they can deal...really well.

Tournament directors function as game experts and Supreme Court Justices of the game, listening to dealers describe elements of a violation or controversial move when they occur, quickly making a decision and keeping the game moving. They also maintain the tournament clock, chip stacks, player seating and basically anything that needs to be done to keep a tournament moving along.  Did I mention security? Oh yeah, that too.

And then, of course there is the ever mystical, fickle, glorious, often uplifting, often ass-kicking Lady Luck. Let's not forget her as she is nipping at your heels every step of the way. She first enters the scene with your simple seat draw. You line up at the cashier's cage, pay your entry fee and are randomly assigned a seat. That seat alone will make or break your day. The cards that land in your seat position will be hot or cold in all possible percentages and will most often vary throughout your poker day.

The patience you use in coping with the seat variance Lady Luck dishes out will be a huge factor in whether you end up at the final table and among other players who cash in the tournament. If you draw an early hot seat, your challenge will be to avoid tilting away your chips by later making careless bets. If you draw an early cold seat, the challenge will be to avoid punting your  remaining short stack of chips, hoping to suck out a win by entering hands where you know you are most likely behind.

Finally, there are the nuances you experience as the game progresses. The chips in front of you must be managed, placed as wagers, shuffled or handled as you await the tale of the cards. Raking and stacking a winning pot is pretty great too! Your cards must be examined and reexamined carefully as the game progresses and you contemplate your next move. You must study the play of your opponents. You must keep track, but not too closely, of distractions around you; table talk, television screens, cell phones, drinks, snacks. And of course, you must win...just often enough to keep you in the game as a matter of finances and interest.

So no folks. It is far from "moron poker." If you are a dedicated tournament player, it is always; "Teach me more on poker." I want to learn, I want to be patient and I want the Lady to visit me regularly. Hell, I'd even suck up if I could track her down.

See you at the final table.